Itanagar/New Delhi- Students from the Screen Acting and Documentary Cinema departments at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Itanagar resumed academic activities for Semester 2 on January 19, after nearly a year of sustained protests against incomplete infrastructure, repeated deadline failures, and severe academic losses at India's third national film institute.

In a statement issued today, the first batch emphasized that this "measured, good-faith" decision aims to prevent further "irreversible loss of academic time," acknowledging visible improvements in construction pace across multiple pending facilities in recent weeks an encouraging shift after prolonged stagnation.

However, the students clarified that resumption does not end their protest or resolve demands, having already endured three academic halts since joining and substantial teaching day losses while advocating for minimum educational conditions; they stressed the "critical importance of time in professional film training" and evolved their form of protest to avoid further academic costs.

However, the students are clear that resuming classes does not mean their protest has ended, nor that their demands have been resolved. The fight for their rights will continue till the campus is complete. The decision to restart academics rests entirely on the expectation that construction will continue at the current pace until the campus is fully completed. If work slows down or halts again, as it has repeatedly in the past, students state that they will be forced to reconsider their academic participation, just as they have done earlier.

This position reflects the lived reality of students who have repeatedly been asked to “continue somehow” without the infrastructure necessary to support film education. Despite multiple detailed representations submitted over several months by both Screen Acting and Documentary Cinema students, no formal, written response addressing demands point by point has been received to date.

Students note that while verbal updates and informal assurances are occasionally offered, the absence of official replies, acknowledgements, or timelines has significantly eroded trust. Students emphasise that individuals holding public and constitutional offices such as the Vice-Chancellor and senior officials of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting carry a responsibility to maintain transparency, accountability, and consistent communication.

On the ground, even basic corrective works in the existing buildings remain incomplete. Persistent issues in CRTs and the Performing Studio and incomplete temporary arrangements continue to disrupt academic activity. This is particularly concerning given that students were away from campus for nearly two and a half months, during which such rectifications could reasonably have been completed.

Students report that disturbances continue even after classes have resumed, till date. The continued absence of a functional sound studio and uncertainty around when essential facilities required later in the semester will actually be ready raises questions. Being repeatedly told that certain infrastructure is “not needed now,” without binding commitments or timelines, has become difficult to accept, especially after multiple written completion dates in the past were missed.

Further adding to the uncertainty is the absence of any update regarding the previously announced high-level ministerial visit, which was expected earlier this month but was postponed without explanation. No official communication has been issued clarifying the status or outcomes of that proposed visit.

Students emphasise that their return to campus should not be misread as compliance or closure. It is a measured, conditional step taken to safeguard their futures while continuing to demand accountability. They reiterate the need for a formal, written, demand-wise response clearly stating the current status of each requirement and definitive completion timelines for all remaining facilities.